Front Row Start Bodes Well for Tomy Drissi at Sebring Season Opener

March 5, 2019

SEBRING, FL – March 5, 2019 - The season start of the 2019 Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship got underway at Sebring International Raceway as part of the Sebring Vintage Classic weekend. It was a strong showing for Tomy Drissi “The Rockin' Moroccan”, the 2009 Trans Am Champion, and his team Burtin Racing.

Driving his first full season for the Atlanta based Burtin Racing team, the starting round of the season saw Drissi debut the No. 8 Dark Phoenix / Auto PLAYHOUSE Chevrolet Camaro in the stunning 2019 Axalta Sahara bronze. The car was also promoting the upcoming new Marvel Blockbuster Movie “Dark Phoenix” which is scheduled to hit theaters June 7.

On the track, the car's performance lived up to its appearance with the Hollywood native driver qualifying the Camaro on the front row of the grid. Drissi delivered a rapid 2:01.426 from a highly competitive entry of 18 cars. Alongside him on the front row was Burtin Racing teammate Lawrence Loshak, meaning that for the first time in their history, Burtin Racing occupied both positions to lockup the front row.

However, the race itself did not unfold as Drissi had hoped. The 2018 West Coast Trans Am Champion was running fourth and pressing third placed RJ Lopez hard for a spot on the podium when overheated brakes caused difficulties late in the race. After finishing 12th, Drissi was nevertheless positive in his support for the team.

After the race Tomy Drissi, driver of the No. 8 Dark Phoenix / Auto PLAYHOUSE Chevrolet Camaro stated, “It’s a long season, we'll get 'em next time. Good job to my teammate, good job to Burtin Racing.”

The Trans Am presented by Pirelli series continues March 29 to 31 at Road Atlanta in the great state of Georgia - a track where Tomy Drissi has plenty of experience. Tomy will no doubt take heart from his front row qualification and look to build on that - with the Burtin Racing cars undeniably the early pace setters in this year's edition of the iconic Trans Am racing.

Keep up to date with news from Tomy Drissi at tomydrissi.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.